CLDF Title
Home | Contact Us | Bookmark
MASH HCC ALCOHOL LIVER DISEASE PEDIATRIC LIVER DISEASE
Embassy of Education
Webcasts Abstract Library LiverQ Academy National Conference Regional Conferences
 
Back  
 
Reuters Health Information (2004-05-24): Pre-existing immunoreactivity limits effect of cytomegalovirus after liver transplant

Clinical

Pre-existing immunoreactivity limits effect of cytomegalovirus after liver transplant

Last Updated: 2004-05-24 16:00:25 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In liver transplant recipients with cytomegalovirus infection, antiviral immune reactions appear to limit the cytopathic effect of the virus on the liver, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Medical Virology.

Dr. A.L. Bissinger of the Universitatsklinikum Tubingen in Tubingen, Germany and colleagues explain that it has never been clear whether antiviral immune responses limit the extent of tissue damage from cytomegalovirus or rather increase it.

In the study, the investigators performed immunohistochemical analysis on 84 liver biopsy specimens from 74 patients and correlated the extent of viral replication with the cytomegalovirus antibody status of the patient and the organ donor.

In 25 of the biopsy specimens, the researchers documented the presence of cytomegalovirus immediate early antigens. According to their paper, the median extent of infection was 0.33 infected cells per millimeter squared of liver tissue.

In patients with primary infection, however - that is, patients who acquired their infection from an infected donor - the extent of organ infection was three times higher than in patients who were seropositive before transplant.

On the other hand, patients with pre-existing immunoreactivity had a greater extent of inflammatory infiltrates in areas of infected liver cells.

Their findings, the authors say, indicate "the protective nature of a pre-existing cytomegalovirus-specific immune response."

Also, they conclude, their results favor "the assumption that the immune response to cytomegalovirus is effective in restricting viral spread in the liver."

J Med Virol 2004;73:45-53.

 
 
 
 

Subscribe

Be the first to know about our latest upcoming programs and events!

CLDF

Follow us

The Chronic Liver Disease Foundation is a non-profit organization with content developed specifically for healthcare professionals.
© Copyright 2012-2025 Chronic Liver Disease Foundation. All rights reserved. This site is maintained as an educational resource for US healthcare providers only.
Use of this Web site is governed by the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation terms of use and privacy statement.